Make a Donation

Subscribe to Our Feeds

The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1403 Friday, 26 August 2005
From: Kenneth Chan <
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
>
Date: Friday, 26 Aug 2005 09:12:06 +0800
Subject: 16.1389 Joshua Logan and "Hamlet"
Comment: Re: SHK 16.1389 Joshua Logan and "Hamlet"
L. Swilley writes:
>>"Kenneth Chan <
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
>
>>Shakespeare's message actually does not reside in what his
>>protagonist learns about himself. The message resides in the
>>audience's emotional experience of the play in its entirety.
>
>[Isn't the "message" of the play the plot thereof? Isn't the
>action of the play one dimension, the audience reaction entirely
>a distinct other?]
>...
>[If the "message" is everything, how many times must it be
>repeated before the audience gets it? Might not the play end
>with the third dramatic form of the "message" just to be sure
>that even the more obtuse among us get the point? If not,
>what is the developing pattern of the dramatic incidents that
>presents more than the "message"? In any case, what is
>"message" more than what is commonly called "theme"?
>Does your idea of "message" (or theme) preclude the
>description of the play as the action of the main character?]"
Instead of discussing all this in the abstract, it is far better to look
at an actual concrete example of how Shakespeare works. I think you will
know what I have been trying to say if you go to my article at
http://homepage.mac.com/sapphirestudios/qod/article2.html which
demonstrates how Shakespeare conveys a large part of his message in Hamlet.
With best wishes,
Kenneth Chan
http://homepage.mac.com/sapphirestudios/qod
_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>
DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the
editor assumes no responsibility for them.